Gerovassiliou, Avaton, Epanomi

NobleRottersSydney - Christmas Lunch 2016 (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney) : {cork, 14%} Blend of Limnio, Mavroudi and Mavrotragano. Aged nose, with dust and old leather and lots of spice. Dense and savoury on the palate, with low-level powdery tannins and soft acid supporting the rustic red flavours amid minimal oak influence. It’s only really light/medium-bodied now, gentle and savoury, and needs drinking soon. I get the sense this might have been something of a blockbuster in its youth.

This is an interesting blend of indigenous Greek grapes. Consumed over two days. On day one, at opening with minimal aeration, very fruit-forward, but in a pleasant way. Dominant flavor of cherry and raisins, but with enough tannins. The fruit was much less dominant on day two. Nice long finish, but not very complex and does not evolve as wines that I would rate more highly. Still, drinking well right now, and might be at its peak. The wine looks …

Limnio, Mavroudi and Mavrotragano Perhaps had a defective bottle, but wine tasted not quite right - like it was subject to heat. Not what I was expecting from such a reputed producer, not scored. Stewed, heaty, very herby.

{cork, 14%} Immaculate cork, I must say. Nose is intense, and developing, with aromas of spice, earth, hints of bretty complexity, not much oak, weeds and tobacco. The palate has a bit of a hollow core, but as a decade old blend of Limnio, Mavroudi and Mavrotragano (what?), this is very acceptable. It's dry and savoury, and seems to straddle a stylistic divide between old and new worlds. The flavours follow the nose a bit; it's quite advanced but I …

Sort of a mysterious wine with grape varietals that were not familiar. It was fresher than many Greek wines I have drank but still had that brooding, lingering flavor of prune and plum. Very interesting and drinking well. Still dark red in color and medium weight.

Very little colour change, bright ruby; subtle nose with some savoury meat juice character, complex but in an understated way; silky entry, lovely tannins, very smooth - this is at a lovely stage for drinking now. A little heat on the finish but overall very rewarding and a very good drop for the money.

Lovely colour and structure. Welcoming smell, very appealing. Dried herbs, Berries and mild Oak. Tasting: Extremely pleasant; light but very tasty. Cherry, Oak dried Berries and maybe light Vanilla predominate. Cherry with mild Oak predominate throughout drinking. Very good structure, light and refreshing aftertaste with Cherry and light Vanilla in the nose. Impressive wine, will love ageing.

Deep ruby colour. Nose is quite expressive with stewed fruit, resin and sweet spice along with some violety floral nuances. Palate is surprisingly medium bodied - nose made me expect a more luscious wine - with well integrated tannins, quite high balancing acidity which makes it quite fluid. Yet flavour intensity is not very high and finish at most is medium. Will it get better with time. Seems like a wine from a rather hot vintage where the best was …

Deep purple with a pink rim. When poured into the glasses reveals aromas of berries, new oak, dried herbs and spices. Medium to full bodied with well integrated tannins and flavors of cherries, sultanas, wood, coffee and black pepper. Not very focused, with quite short aftertaste. Perhaps needs two or three years to improve.

Douglas Lamb Wines Trade Tasting (Art House Hotel, Pitt Street, Sydney) : Farmyards, leather, spiced red berry fruit. Tobacco and cedar Bitter red spiced fruit - clove and nutmeg in here as well for me. White pepper, medium acid and slight green nettle. Long finish. Interesting.

2005 Domaine Gerovassiliou Avaton (Griekenland, Macedonië, Epanomi) Kleur: Diep robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Half gesloten. Kruidig, gedroogd fruit (pruimen, dadels). Verder tonen van teer en leer, sigarenkistjeshout. Moeilijk te relateren aan mij bekende druivenrassen (gemaakt van Limnio, Mavroudi en Mavrotragano). Smaak / Afdronk: Subtiel zoetige aanzet, die al snel wordt gedomineerd door zachte zuren en ronde tannines. Zeer gemakkelijk drinkbaar, gemiddelde concentratie en lengte. Algemeen / potentieel: Een mindere jaargang van deze wijn?? 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / …